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Night Chapter 1 Flashcards
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Night Chapter 1 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Who is Moshe the Beadle?

The caretaker of the synagogue.

What does Wiesel tell the reader of Moshe?

He is poor and lived in penury; he was the only poor person people liked because he stayed out of the way; awkward and strange.

How does Wiesel describe himself as a boy of 12?

Observant, studied Talmud.

How does Wiesel describe his father?

<p>A cultured man, unsentimental; more involved with others more than his family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did Elie's father prohibit him from studying the Cabala?

<p>Too young and dangerous.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Wiesel realize his wish to study the Cabala?

<p>Moishe the Beadle asks why Elie prays, he asks why Elie does any of the things he does.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Moshe?

<p>All foreign Jews were expelled from Sighet, deported on a train.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Several months later, Elie saw Moshe the Beadle again. What story did Moshe tell?

<p>People were being killed by the Gestapo.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How was Moshe able to escape?

<p>He was wounded (shot in the leg) and left for dead.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How was Moshe changed as a result of his experience?

<p>No more joy or religious expression; didn't sing anymore.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did other people in the village react to Moshe's story?

<p>Other people in the village refused to believe or listen to Moshe.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the villagers react the way they did to Moshe's story?

<p>They were too outraged and in denial. They couldn't believe such horrible things could happen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the attitude of the Jews of Sighet?

<p>Optimistic.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What literary device does Wiesel employ to emphasize the foolish optimism and denial of facts of the Jews living in Sighet?

<p>Irony.</p> Signup and view all the answers

After the Germans arrived in Sighet, what was the prevailing attitude among the residents?

<p>It was reassuring and calm. The Germans seemed nice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

After Passover, Wiesel says 'the curtain rose.' What does this refer to?

<p>The facade that the Germans had disappeared.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happened after Passover?

<p>They started to take over and arrested Jewish leaders.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was bitterly ironic about the comments that Wiesel's father made regarding the wearing of the yellow star?

<p>He said that it wasn't lethal. However, it singled out the Jews to be killed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the Germans' next step?

<p>They started putting Jews in Ghettos, Jews were concentrated then confined in the ghettos.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Jews react to this?

<p>They tried to go back to normal. They loved being only among their own.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Germans had other plans for the Jews of Sighet, however. What were those plans?

<p>To transport from the Ghettos to the small Ghetto then the cattle cars.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where did they go?

<p>Train station, cattle cars.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Despite all that happened, even after the Germans entered the capital of Budapest, Wiesel tells us that people still remained optimistic about their future. How can you explain this optimism?

<p>They need something to keep them going, and didn't want to believe their lives were in danger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In this chapter, Wiesel uses images from nature. How does he use the sun?

<p>'Under a blazing sun', 'a summer sun', 'the heat was oppressive'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the imagery of night suggest?

<p>No more optimism, hope burned out dying.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Given the fact that the title of this book is 'Night', what do you suppose a major theme in this work will be?

<p>Like a nightmare, in shock, darkest part of history, one never-ending night.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A memoir is a story of one's life told by the person similar to an autobiography. Describe the tone of this memoir, and speculate on why Wiesel chooses to use this tone.

<p>This was the darkest part of his life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters and Descriptions

  • Moshe the Beadle: Caretaker of the synagogue, poor yet liked for his unobtrusiveness, described as awkward and strange.
  • Elie Wiesel at age twelve: Observant boy who studied the Talmud.
  • Wiesel’s father: A cultured, unsentimental man more engaged with others than with family.

Themes and Literary Devices

  • Prohibition of studying the Cabala: Elie’s father believed he was too young and that it was dangerous.
  • Irony: Used to highlight the contradictory optimism and denial of the Jews in Sighet regarding their situation.
  • Imagery of nature: Descriptions include “under a blazing sun” and “the heat was oppressive,” signifying an oppressive atmosphere.

Events and Reactions

  • Deportation of Moshe: Foreign Jews were expelled, and Moshe was taken away on a train.
  • Moshe's warning: Upon return, he recounts witnessing atrocities by the Gestapo, but his warnings are met with disbelief.
  • Jewish villagers’ response: Denial and outrage, unable to accept the reality of the horrors described.

Sociopolitical Context

  • Attitude of Sighet's Jews: Initially optimistic, they were reassured by the Germans’ friendly demeanor.
  • Post-Passover events: Germans began to arrest Jewish leaders and impose stricter controls.
  • Wearing the yellow star: Initially dismissed as non-lethal by Wiesel's father, it became a deadly symbol of identification for Jews.

Transition to Oppression

  • The establishment of ghettos: Jews were confined and concentrated, leading to a false sense of community.
  • Transportation plans: Jews were moved from the ghettos to cattle cars, indicating the escalation of their plight.
  • Persistence of Jewish optimism: Even as danger loomed, many clung to hope, reluctant to believe in their dire circumstances.

Symbolism and Themes

  • Night as a metaphor: Represents a loss of hope and the persistent darkness of their experiences, suggesting a major theme of despair in the memoir.
  • Tone of the memoir: Reflects the darkest moments of Wiesel's life, emphasizing the gravity of the historical events.

Conclusion

  • The narrative carries a profound sense of loss, despair, and the struggle against the cruel reality of life during the Holocaust, laying the groundwork for the themes explored throughout the memoir.

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Description

Test your knowledge of Chapter 1 of Elie Wiesel's 'Night' with these flashcards. Focus on key characters like Moshe the Beadle and Wiesel's childhood reflections. Ideal for understanding the themes and character backgrounds in this poignant memoir.

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